Adding a new segment to an existing oneworld classic-reward

[tripledot]

Hi all,

I have already made a oneworld classic-reward booking ticket (issued) that contains a number of different flights (business class).
With the current booking, the flight starts from Melbourne and finishes back in Melbourne, triggering the 318,000 qantas points caps for oneworld classic-reward.

I'm trying to add a new segment at the beginning of the flight i.e. from Denpasar to Melbourne,
in which I found a business classic reward route via Singapore i.e.
Denpasar -> Singapore (Economy)
Singapore -> Melbourne (Business)
(with the hope to maximize my current 318,000 qantas points caps - hence no mroe point, but prolly just adding extra taxes?)

I called Qantas Contact center earlier and was advised that if I add this new segment, the existing business class seat that I booked in my existing booking,
will be released, and she said that she need to re-book it again, with the risk of us losing the previously acquired seat.
Is that really true? I was under the impression that adding new flight shouldn't touch the existing booking (especially with the fact it's already been issued).

Hence, she recommended me to just book this new flight on a new booking instead (and leave the existing one untouched).

Then, I asked the lady to pre-estimate how much point & taxes I need to pay - shall I decide to add this new segment to my existing booking.
She said that she could find my flight on that same day and airline, however, she cannot see the business-classic-reward option on her screen.
On her screen, she could only find Economy + Premium Economy combination.
Denpasar -> Singapore (Economy)
Singapore -> Melbourne (Premium Economy)

She mentioned that the availability might be different between 'new' booking and adding-segment-to-existing-booking.
On top of that, she told me that she can't add (the system not allowing) this new Denpasar - Melbourne segment to my existing classic-reward booking.
When I asked for possible reason why it is not able to be added, she only said it's probably due to my current booking is on business-class, and while one of the flight-leg is on economy, which is two level below Business.
In my current booking, all my flight are in Business class, except one which is on Premium Economy, but I'm still able to make it through.
Hence, I'm actually a bit confused as to why this Economy one cannot be added there as well.

I'm just wondering if it might be worth giving it another shot to contact other Qantas rep again?
Many thanks in advance!

 

[smckay]

I have done this before, and whilst I have been told it's not possible, I have had it done. Example was I booked the additional reward flight whilst on the phone, gave the agent the reference # and she merged it. This was for business so may not be the same for economy. You probably need to get the right agent in Australia who can do it and knows how to.
So yes, try the phone lotto until you give up or succeed.

 

[justinbrett]

It is possible, I did it a few weeks ago.

You do need to pay the change fees however, so you need to weigh up whether it's worth it (unless you booked prior to the end of the flex rules, in which case they're waived).

In my case I added a domestic connection to an existing DFW-SYD booking, which cost no extra points and only a small amount of extra tax, so it would have been worth it to pay the change fee, but it was waived as I'd booked the DFW flight a while ago.

I wouldn't do this on non QF metal though, the ticketing has been a nightmare, it's still not ticketed and I've called up several times. They've basically said it's QF metal so it won't be cancelled and just to chill out.

 

[tripledot]

I have done this before, and whilst I have been told it's not possible, I have had it done. Example was I booked the additional reward flight whilst on the phone, gave the agent the reference # and she merged it. This was for business so may not be the same for economy. You probably need to get the right agent in Australia who can do it and knows how to.
So yes, try the phone lotto until you give up or succeed.

I see. Just to clarify, so in your case here, you made a new classic-reward booking by yourself online, and then linked this new booking to your other existing oneworld-classic-reward via calling Qantas center?

Also, what's the advantage of linking two separate booking?
I was previously thinking of just adding one new segment to my existing booking, but I remember the Qantas reps recommend me to create a new booking and then after that, she can linked it together with my previous booking together.

 

[smckay]

Yes, new classic reward booking adding to an existing reward booking with the 318,000 points limit made so like you the additional flights cost 'nothing' except taxes.

 

[andye]

There are many examples in other threads of people altering their OWA in any way and losing non-QF seats due to reticketing delays. QR flights seem most vulnerable. It's within the rules but a high-risk strategy.

 

[tripledot]

It is possible, I did it a few weeks ago.

You do need to pay the change fees however, so you need to weigh up whether it's worth it (unless you booked prior to the end of the flex rules, in which case they're waived).

In my case I added a domestic connection to an existing DFW-SYD booking, which cost no extra points and only a small amount of extra tax, so it would have been worth it to pay the change fee, but it was waived as I'd booked the DFW flight a while ago.

I wouldn't do this on non QF metal though, the ticketing has been a nightmare, it's still not ticketed and I've called up several times. They've basically said it's QF metal so it won't be cancelled and just to chill out.

Nice, that's good to hear.
By 'flex rules', are we referring to the previous flexible classic reward that ends in 30 September 2022?

I see. In my current booking, it contains a number of flights that uses few other airline (oneworld, but not Qantas) as well e,g, British Airways, Iberia, and JAL.
In your case before, when u added the new segment for the domestic connection, did your DFW-SYD seat getting released and rebooked (with the new segment)?
Or did she just add this new segment to your booking without touching your existing DFW-SYD flight seat?

 

[DAC1]

I see. Just to clarify, so in your case here, you made a new classic-reward booking by yourself online, and then linked this new booking to your other existing oneworld-classic-reward via calling Qantas center?

Also, what's the advantage of linking two separate booking?
I was previously thinking of just adding one new segment to my existing booking, but I remember the Qantas reps recommend me to create a new booking and then after that, she can linked it together with my previous booking together.

You cannot ‘link’ two separate bookings.

 

[tripledot]

Yes, new classic reward booking adding to an existing reward booking with the 318,000 points limit made so like you the additional flights cost 'nothing' except taxes.

I see. I'm actually a bit confused on how this works.
In this case, when you added this new (additional) classic reward booking, I suppose that you are still charged the original-point-amount for this new addition flight-leg?

e.g. we originally make booking B1 which hits the 318k cap.
and then we make new booking B2 for additional flight for 50k point.
Does Qantas actually refund this 50k point when we linked/merged B2 to B1? (i.e. after we made a phone call to help us merge this 2 booking?)

 

[tripledot]

You cannot ‘link’ two separate bookings.

Oo ok. Are linking and merging the same thing?

 

[smckay]

in my case, I vaguely think I got the booking number before payment (you just bail out of the webpage before paying) and the agent took those seats and they showed up in the original PNR, without a points change but with money taken for the taxes.
Like I say, most agents I had spoken to said no but I got one in Hobart who knew and did the booking.

 

[p--and--t]

You do need to pay the change fees however, so you need to weigh up whether it's worth it (unless you booked prior to the end of the flex rules, in which case they're waived).

I've never paid a change fee when I've added another segment to an existing OW Classic Award booking or other changes I have made.

If you can't do it on line because of a lack of system functionality or an error message that pops up etc then the operator should do it without penalty.

Well at least they have always accepted my "plea bargaining" in the past.

 

[p--and--t]

Oo ok. Are linking and merging the same thing?

AFAIAA You have a single booking.

The operator adds the sector to the original booking for you.

There are no "two bookings" or "adding bookings together" or "linking bookings"

 

[p--and--t]

.g. we originally make booking B1 which hits the 318k cap.
and then we make new booking B2 for additional flight for 50k point.
Does Qantas actually refund this 50k point when we linked/merged B2 to B1? (i.e. after we made a phone call to help us merge this 2 booking?)

You are adding a sector to a booking, Not two bookings.

If the additional sectors do not break the rules of the OWA then there will be no increase in points. However, there needs to be a recalculation of total taxes and charges which will most likely vary. The difference in taxes and charges will need to be paid.

 

[tripledot]

I've never paid a change fee when I've added another segment to an existing OW Classic Award booking or other changes I have made.

If you can't do it on line because of a lack of system functionality or an error message that pops up etc then the operator should do it without penalty.

Well at least they have always accepted my "plea bargaining" in the past.

Out of curiosity, can we add new segment into our existing

 

[p--and--t]

Out of curiosity, can we add new segment into our existing

You can add and subtract sectors from a PNR (your booking) as long as it doesn't break the rules.

However, a newbie telephone agent that doesn't understand the complex rules of the OW Classic award will give you a bum steer, fob you off, hang up on you, or stuff it up. Unfortunately you have to find some who knows what they are doing.

The more changes you make, the higher the risk given re-ticketing delays (especially if you have QR or MH sectors)

 

[tripledot]

I see. Do we have to contact Qantas agent to make the changes? Or can we actually add new segment by ourself via Qantas website?

 

[justinbrett]

I've never paid a change fee when I've added another segment to an existing OW Classic Award booking or other changes I have made.

If you can't do it on line because of a lack of system functionality or an error message that pops up etc then the operator should do it without penalty.

Well at least they have always accepted my "plea bargaining" in the past.

Why is there a change fee if it’s never imposed though?

You might have got lucky. The agent I had was Australian so assume she knew what she was doing.

 

[jpp42]

I see. Do we have to contact Qantas agent to make the changes? Or can we actually add new segment by ourself via Qantas website?

Changes to Oneworld Classic Awards can only be done via the call centre. There are so many complexities it kind of makes sense that they haven't made change functionality available to customers directly.

 

[p--and--t]

I see. Do we have to contact Qantas agent to make the changes? Or can we actually add new segment by ourself via Qantas website?

The functionality wasn't there 8 months ago. It might have changed, but I doubt it. You can make the initial booking online OK (mostly), but changes to itinerary always used to need an operator, and hence no change fee - cos you couldn't do it online.